Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
Introduction:
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth and Empowerment
This is Paul’s second prayer recorded in the book of Ephesians.
His first prayer was for spiritual understanding. (Ephesians 1:15-23)
This prayer is not exclusively for the Ephesians.
The requests Paul makes for his readers can be requests made for us.
This is another great prayer to pray for your own family, your coworkers, other believers, anyone else you relate to, and for yourself.
As we study this prayer, look for the theme of power and love.
Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Examine the scriptures:
Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
14 When I think of all this,
Paul began verse 1 with this same phrase: “When I think of all this …”
Paul is reflecting on all that God has done and is doing for the Gentiles (for believers).
Briefly: (from previous lessons)
Review Chapter 2
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews… .12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. … (through the end of chapter 2)
A very brief summary of chapter 3:1-13 the section immediately preceding these verses.
6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
8 …, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
For us:
Think of all that God has is doing and has already for us, as believers.
- God takes people bound for hell and adopts them into His family.
I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,
This was a display of reverence and emotion. Recognizing God as a holy God.
People in Paul’s day usually stood to pray.
15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.
Paul is recognizing the awesomeness of God.
Genesis 1
Creator of everything!
16 I pray
A second prayer from Paul for the Ephesians, people he loves.
Paul’s first prayer was for spiritual understanding. This prayer is for spiritual growth and empowerment.
Paul prays that his readers would be strong in their faith.
that from his glorious, unlimited resources
God is the source of glorious, unlimited resources that He gladly gives to His children.
- God’s has glorious, unlimited resources, beyond our comprehension.
he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
God is certainly able to empower us with inner strength by gifting us with the Holy Spirit.
- Paul prays that the Holy Spirit will energize, revitalize, and empower his readers (us).
Acts 1:8 NLT
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Galatians 5:16 NLT
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.
Trust and obey.
Colossians 1:27 NLT
27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
Galatians 2:20 NLT
20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
John 14:16-17 NLT
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.
John 15:4-5 NLT
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
- Christ will make his home in (our) hearts as (we) trust in him.
Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
Rooted in God’s love.
Roots are an access to nourishment.
Colossians 2:6-7 NLT
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Psalm 1:1-3 NLT
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
- (Our) roots will grow down into God’s love and keep (us) strong.
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
God’s love is great in every dimension.
Romans 8:38-39 NLT
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
19 May you experience the love of Christ,
God’s love.
May you know the love of Christ.
Romans 5:5 NLT
5 … For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
though it is too great to understand fully.
Christ’s love is much greater than human love.
- Paul prays that (we) would understand and experience God’s love.
Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
- Without Christ our life is incomplete.
A void exists.
A Transformation takes place in the life of the believer.
Sanctification.
Romans 8:29 NLT
29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 NLT
16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
20 Now all glory to God,
God deserves nothing less.
who is able, through his mighty power at work within us,
God’s power.
Verse 16 … he will empower you …
Verse 18 … may you have the power to understand …
Here … through his mighty power at work within us …
Power from God is a gift!
to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Reflect on this phrase.
Philippians 4:13 NLT
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Colossians 1:29 NLT
29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.
- All glory to God who is at work in our lives.
21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
- The church (the body of believers) is to be the reflection and full expression of the glory of God.
To bring glory to God is ultimate goal of our existence.
This doxology concludes the first section of the letter.
Ephesians 1-3 was doctrine.
Ephesians 4-6 will be application.
- Paul’s prayer can be our prayer.
- God takes people bound for hell and adopts them into His family.
- God’s has glorious, unlimited resources, beyond our comprehension.
- Paul prays that the Holy Spirit will energize, revitalize, and empower his readers (us).
- Christ will make his home in (our) hearts as (we) trust in him.
- (Our) roots will grow down into God’s love and keep (us)
- Paul prays that (we) would understand and experience God’s love.
- Without Christ our life is incomplete.
- All glory to God who is at work in our lives.
- The church (the body of believers) is to be the reflection and full expression of the glory of God.
